County Commissioner John Wiley Price had called on pastors throughout the area not to let Miles come speak in their churches, but True Lee Missionary Baptist invited him anyway.

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The teacher firings received little attention at Thursday night's school board meeting, where a crowd of supporters spoke for and against Superintendent Mike Miles' plan to fire two high school principals. (Published Friday, May 24, 2013)

From inside the church you could hear the two dozen protesters across the street chanting.

"Mike Miles is a bully. Mike Miles is a bully. Mike Miles is a bully," said one of the chants. They didn’t want Superintendent Miles to talk about his vision, explain his decisions and answer questions in the church.

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Dallas Independent School District trustees voted to support a controversial reform plan by Superintendent Mike Miles to "nonrenew" the contracts hundreds of teachers and dozens of principals Thursday night. (Published Friday, May 24, 2013)

Dallas ISD parent Robert Jones was among those chanting and carrying signs.

"He's just moving too fast,” says Jones. “And with that me being a parent. I'm trying to teach my kids how to be fair and he's not being fair."

"He's taking away some of the best, most creative teachers who are leaving, not because he pushed them out,” explains retired Dallas ISD teacher Bill Betzen. “They are the ones who are leaving because they don't like what is happening."

"I try not to criticize critics that much because I understand that's what schools are about. It's about community,” said Superintendent Miles. “But it's also about expectations and part of my job is to raise expectations."

"It seems strange to be accused of not communicating or collaborating and then have people say don't come to talk," he said. “It seems contradictory.”

Miles talked for an hour.

On the fact he’s not handling things the way some in the community would like, Miles said, “The fact we don’t do what one group wants or can’t agree with one group doesn’t mean we’re not listening. There’s way too many groups to do what everybody wants.”

We asked long-time church member Brenda Cash if she was glad Miles was invited to her church.

"Yes, I am,” said Cash. “I'm very happy that we have an open pastor and he likes to see both sides."

Miles says he's trying to create a culture of accountability at Dallas ISD. Taxpayers are trying to do the same with him.

Published at 6:28 PM CDT on May 26, 2013 | Updated at 6:40 PM CDT on May 26, 2013